Sheet-metal toy construction



Dec. 9, 1930. H. L. KRAEFT SHEET METAL TOY CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 17, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l F IB..B

Dec. 9, 1930. a. L. KRAEFT 1,784,633

SHEET METAL TOY CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 17, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 9, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT FF ICE HERMAN L. KR-AEFT, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO MURRAY OHIO MANUFAC- TURING COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, .A CORPORATION OF OHIO SHEET-METAL TOY CONSTRUCTION Application filed October 17,. 1929. Serial No. 400,252.

This invention relates primarily to a tail structure for a toy aircraft, or similar toy. In the arrangement shown inthe drawings, the'invention is adapted foruse in a relatively small pressed metal toy, arranged to be moved about the floor by a child. The in 'vention may be modified for embodiment in larger vehicles, such as pedal driven toys.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an improved and simplified tail structure for toys, simulating airplanes, dirigible balloons and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tail structure for a toy including elevator and rudder simulating. parts, which parts will be simple in-construction, easily and which will result in a very rigid toy.

' Further objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description relating to the accompanying drawings,-which show the preferred forms ofthe invention. The essential characteristics are summarized in the claims. 1

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan view of a toy airplane incorporating my invention;

Fig.2 is a substantially central longitudinal sectional'view of the tail portion of the toy; 3 is a perspective view of one of the-parts of the tail structure; Figs. 4, 5 and Gare sectional detail views taken substantially along the corresponding section indicating lines on Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view through the fuselage, as indicated by the line '77 on Fi 9 n, and Fig.8 is a side elevation of the rear parts of a toy including a modified form of the invention.

The structure and arrangement of parts in thisapplication is substantially inaccordance with the showing of application Serial No. 294,389, filed July 21, 1928, of which this applicationisa continuation'in part.

Referring in detail to the drawings, l'indicates the airplane fuselage and 2 a suitable wing structure. 'The character of the wing structure is immaterial from the stand point of this invention.

Suitable landing gear may be provided on the order of landing gear mechanism of a 'fullsized land plane. The landinggear is not illustrated.

-5. 'terminatesadjacent the'front edge 13 of the extension 12 to allow this extension to be The fuselage or main body maybe formed byi'ne'ans of side panels 5and a top panel 6, these parts being secured together as by spot welding downturned flanges 6 of the top panel-to the upper marginal edges of theside panels. The side panels are generally spaced apart. but converge toward the rear and may have inturned strengthening fianges5 along their lower edges to lend'additional'i'igidity to the fuselage. It is immaterial whether the members 5 and 6 are separate pieces or integral.

The tail appendages comprise fin-like mem 1Q is formed to lie 'edgewise against the upper surface of the top panel 6 of the fuselage and has a tongue or lug 11, preferably at its extreme front end which is adapted-to engage an elongated slot in the top panel. The lower end of the lug 11 has a forwardly extending projection 11 which,'when the rudder member is in place,

underhangs an imperforate portion of the pa'nel'6 so as to preventremoval of the lug. Nearits rear end',the rudder is extended downwardly as at 12 to lie between the rearwardly projecting ends of the side members To facilitate assembly, the top panel' 6 swung down (with the'lug engaged with the top panel) into the embrace of the side panel end portions which lie parallel to each other at the 'rear end ofthe fuselage and are spaced only sufficiently to receive the extension 12.

With'the extension-12 lying between the overlying ends of the panels 5, it will beseen that therudder may now bec secured by the samemeansthat secures the two side panels together. As shown, this comprises 'a spot weldbut may include-one or more rivets.

The elevators and 21 (see Fig. 3 particularly) have lugs or extensions 23 which enter slots 24 in the side panels 5. As shown, these lugs 23 extend through both panels 5 in overlying relation and are arranged to fit the slots tightly at their front and rear edges, when the elevators are fully in place. Such tight fit is accomplished, while allowing the free insertion of the lugs into the slots, by making the relationships such that both elevator members have to be swung slightly outwardly from the body in order to enable the lugs to freely enter the slots. As shown, the lugs 23 have parallel side edges but the edges of the two lugs are slightly inclined forwardly as at 23 and 23 with relation to each other (see Fig. 4), with the result that binding engagement of the front edges 23' with the forward ends of the slots 24 does not occur until the rear portions of the members and 21 are swung toward the extremities of the side panels. To hold the elevator members in place in such swung-in position, I provide the elevator members with downturned flanges adapted to lie-flat against the outermost surfaces of the side members or panels 5. It will be seen that with the flanges 25 separated a short distance from the panels 5, the lugs 23 are comparatively loose in their slots, but when the flanges are moved into contact with the panel sides, then the engagement between the lugs and slots is tight. Lug arrangement, with hook formations, as on the rudder may of course be used in place of the straight lugs 23 illustrated,

It will be seen from the above that portions of the rudder member, the'two side panels and the flanges 25 of the elevator members,

are superposed at a common. point, at which all the superposed members maybe securedeither by a single spot weld, as shown'at 26, or a suitable rivet or screw, The latter class of fastening means is shown at 26, Fig. 8.

The tail construction includes, as shown in Figs. 2, 5 and 6, a tail skid made as a single piece U-shaped stamping 30. The sides 31 of the stamping are made to-lie flat against the panels 5 below the flanges 25 on the elevatormember, and further rigidity'ofithe tail structure may be effected by spot weld' ing these sides 31 to the side panels which will also effect an additional weld between the side panels and the extension 12 of the rudder member. As shown, the'U-shaped stamping has a lug 33 which lies over the flanges 5' of the side panels and which may be inserted through suitable notches 5 in these panel flanges with the rudder member swung forwardly and downwardly prior to complete assembly into the position shown in the drawings. 7

If desired, the tail skid may be eliminated from the construction and the side panels 5 may support a small wheel such as 40.: The

' panels in Fig.8 are shown as having downwardly extending bracket formations 4-1 for receiving an'axle such as 4.2 of the wheel 10. I claim 1. In a. toy aircraft, a hollow metal fuselage including side and top portions having through openings therein, the sides extending into substantially parallel superposed arrangement at one end of the fuselage, rudder and elevator simulating sheet metal plates disposed in outwardly extending arrangement on the fuselage, each plate having one edge arranged to contact with the adjacent fuselage portion, lugs on the plates adapted to loosely enter respective ones of said openings, and to interlock with the respective fuselage portions at said openings, each plate having a portion thereof extending in mutually superposed relationship to theparally, said members having portions extending into mutually superposed relationship and into superposed relation to the parallel portions of the side members rearwardly from the lugs, together with means rigidly'associati'ng the superposed parts together to hold the lugs in engagement with the openings;

3. In a toy. aircraft, a sheet metal body having side portions and a top portion joining the sides, the sides extending into substantially parallel superposed arrangement at one end of the body, the top portion .having an opening, a vertically disposed rudder simulating member having its lower edge adapted to extend along the top portion for vertical support, and having a projection at such lower edge, arranged to enter the opening in the-top portion and to underlie the sheet metal thereof adjacent the opening, the rudder member having a portion thereof arranged to extend in superposed relation to the parallelv portions of the side portions, and a suitable securing means for the side portions and the rudder simulating member at the mutually overlying portions thereof holding the said. extension in locking engagement with the top. I i i Y i 4. In a toy airplane,'a body comprising a pair of side members spaced apart for substantiallythe' entire length of the body but brought together at the rear thereof, and a skid construction comprising a generally. U- shaped sheet metal member, the upper ends thereof being in overlapping relation to said side members and joined thereto, there being a forward extension onsaid' skid member ininterlocking relation to said body sides forwardly of the point at which said ends are secured. V

5. Ina toy airplane, a hollow sheet metal body open at the bottom an'dh'aving inward 13 disposed bottom flanges, notches in sald flanges near the rear of the body and a skid member having a forwardly projecting lip adapted to extend into said notches and to be held in position thereby, and means additionally securing the member to the body rearwardly from said lip.

6. In a toy of the class described, a sheet metal shell forming the toy body, a rudder member, said member having, a forwardly projecting lug adapted to freely enter an elongated opening in the shell when the rudder member is out of edgewise contact with said shell, said lug having a forward projection in the plane of the rudder, adapted to contact with the interior of the shell adjacent said opening to lock the rudderto the shell, whereby the lug will not require bending over in order to obtain a locking effect when the rudder member is in edgewise contact with the shell, and means associated with the shell and coacting with said lug to keep the rudder member in substantially.perpendicular edgewise contact with the shell.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature.

HERMAN L. KRAEFT. 

